Noise Pollution

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Noise Pollution:
  • Noise pollution refers to the presence of noise or sound to such a level in the environment that is disturbing, irritating and annoying to living beings.
Factors responsible for Noise Pollution:
  • Urbanisation
  • Industrialisation
  • Growth in Population
  • Poverty & Illiteracy
  • Non-Cooperation of Governmental Agencies
  • Customs, Festivals or Religious Ceremonies
Sources:
The sources of noise pollution may be broadly classified into two classes:
Industrial Sources:
  • The industrial sources may include noise from various industrial operations in cities, like boilers, machineries, foundries, flour mills, cutting machines, etc.
  • Pollution due to big machines working on a high speed have high-noise intensity.
Non-Industrial Sources: These include loudspeakers, construction works, automobiles, trains, aircrafts, projection of satellites into space etc.
Steps taken by Indian Government to control Noise Pollution:
  • Ambient noise standards were notified in 1989, which formed the basis for State Pollution Control Boards to initiate action against violating sources.
  • The vehicular noise standards, notified in 1990, are being implemented by Ministry of Science and Technology, to reduce traffic noise.
  • Noise standards for fire-crackers were developed in 1999.
  • The Noise Rules, 2000, regulates noise due to Public Address System/ Loud speakers and also prescribed procedures for noise complaint handling.
  • Setting up of National Ambient Noise Monitoring Network (NANMN) through CPCB and the state pollution control boards (SPCBs) to monitor noise on a 24×7 basis in India’s large cities.
Section : Environment & Ecology